As full-throttle preparations continue for the First Annual Short Track SuperNationals at Afton Speedway, event co-promoters Brett Deyo and Pat Jordan have established a base purse for the Fri.-Sat. Oct. 6-7 two-day affair.

They also welcome the addition of Mike Emhof and the Central New York Mini-Sprint group to inaugural event.

Over $35,000 will be distributed at the three-tenths-mile oval during the anticipated weekend, which will be headlined by a big-block/small-block Modified 50-lapper, in addition to high-profile events for the 1200cc Mini-Sprints, 270cc Micro-Sprints, 600cc Micro-Sprints, 125cc Micro-Sprints, Pure Stocks and Four Cylinder Pups.

The Fabrications by Tauschman All-Star Cash Dash for the Modifieds, with qualifiers scheduled throughout the summer at Afton, Accord (N.Y.), Penn-Can (Pa.), Five Mile Point (N.Y.) and Utica-Rome (N.Y.), is also a major attraction. The 10-lap, $1,000-to-win go-for-broke event will be run during Saturday's program.

"That's just the base," Deyo said of the 35k number. "It doesn't include any of the lap and bonus money that's already been coming in.

"The racers I've talked to about coming are all pretty excited. I don't blame them. They've got 35,000 reasons to be excited!"

Deyo and Jordan are enthused about the involvement of Mike Emhof and his Central New York Mini-Sprint group. While it will not be a CNYMS points-paying event, their rules package will be utilized.

Emhof has owned CNYMS for the past three seasons and has been involved with the group for a decade.

"Having Mike and Central New York on board is a big boost for us," noted Pat Jordan. "We've had tremendous success with the Mini-Sprints at Afton, so I am looking forward to a huge turnout that weekend."

The Mini-Sprints will compete for $500-to-win in Friday night's preliminary, with a $1,500 top prize in place for the Saturday main. The 1200cc Mini-Sprint purse for the weekend is nearing $10,000.

"We have a lot of resources to draw from between the three of us," said Emhof. "It should be a successful event.

"The move from far-reaching New England into a more centralized location will be a huge benefit," said Emhof, who previously promoted the "Fall Foliage Weekend" at Canaan (N.H.) Speedway.

Further details will be available as the race date nears. Full purses will be posted on the official Short Track SuperNationals website: www.shorttracksupernationals.com. The website will be up and running by April 15.

For further information, entry forms, advance ticket sales or to pursue marketing opportunities, contact Brett Deyo by phone at (845) 728-2781 or (845) 565-4850, or via e-mail at Deyo99H@aol.com.

SUPERNATIONALS SIDENOTES: Mike Ricci, who tamed The New York State Fairgrounds in 1993 as the 358-Modified Super DIRT Week winner, has committed to the SuperNationals.